Home-strong second division side challenges LaLiga promoted side

Alongside the English FA Cup, the Spanish King’s Cup, the Copa del Rey, is one of the oldest competitions in the world. Similar to the motherland of football, the cup is also held in very high esteem in Spain. This year, the competition is being played for the 118th time and is currently in the last 32, with a clash between Eibar and Mallorca on Wednesday evening, among others.

Two teams that changed leagues at the end of last season. Eibar had to take the bitter step into the second division, Mallorca escaped this and has been active in the highest division again since this season. Nevertheless, according to the current odds, the bookmakers expect a fairly even match in the cup match between Eibar and Mallorca. The home side are in good form, while the visitors are anything but convincing away from home.

Until a few years ago, the Copa del Rey was decided in a first and second leg. However, due to the ever-increasing workload, this is no longer the case and the promotion to the last 16 will be determined at the Ipurua Stadium on Wednesday afternoon from 4pm – with extra time and a penalty shoot-out due if necessary.

Eibar – Statistics & current form

For seven years, the smallest club in the Spanish football top flight was a member of LaLiga, before the team under long-term coach Jose Luis Mendilibar had to cope with relegation last season. Back in the second division, the Basques hired the coach who helped them make the breakthrough from the third to the first division – Gaizka Garitano. The 46-year-old was with Athletic Bilbao until the end. He had already worked in Eibar between 2009 and 2015 in various functions (co-coach, coach of the B team, head coach).

Only one home defeat in 2021/22

Although the Basques started the season with two defeats, since then things have gone absolutely according to plan. In the meantime, the Garitano eleven has played another 20 league games and has only lost twice in this period. With 42 points, the team is currently in second place in LaLiga2 and, as things stand, would be able to celebrate direct promotion. Especially the home strength is decisive for the good situation at the beginning of the year.

The 1:0 defeat against Ponferradina on the second matchday was the only home defeat in the current season. On the other hand, there are no less than eight wins and two draws. This is the best home record in the second division and ensures that in the cup match between Eibar and Mallorca, betting on the home side does not really offer higher odds than on the visitors. The statistics are definitely in favour of the hosts, who last Friday celebrated a 3-2 victory against Real Sociedad de San Sebastian’s B team in a small derby thanks to a late goal.

Eibar’s top scorer Stoichkov will be particularly motivated in this cup match. The 28-year-old was under contract with Mallorca from 2018 to 2021, but the club did not believe in his breakthrough and always loaned him out. Now he has already scored eleven goals this season at Eibar, making him a great hope for promotion.

Predicted line-up of Eibar:
Rodriguez – Garcia, Atienza, Burgos, Arbilla, Tejero – Stoichkov, Munoz, Exposito, Gonzalez – Blanco Leschuk

Last matches played by Eibar:

LaLiga2
12/31 2021 – Eibar 3 – 2 Real Sociedad B

12/18 2021 – Las Palmas 0 – 1 Eibar

Copa del Rey
12/15 2021 – Tenerife 1 – 2 Eibar

LaLiga2
12/11 2021 – Eibar 2 – 2 Malaga

12/06 2021 – Real Zaragoza 1 – 0 Eibar

Mallorca – Statistics & current form

More than a full squad was not available to Xavi last Sunday and yet FC Barcelona managed a 1-0 away win in Mallorca. A victory that was not necessarily expected, because Mallorca presented itself in the season so far as difficult to defeat, especially at home. The defeat against the Catalans was only the second home defeat this season. A “monster save” by Marc-Andre ter Stegen prevented the equaliser in favour of the island kickers in stoppage time.

Only one win in eleven league games

The Mallorcans are in 15th place in the table after the end of the first leg and are four points clear of the first relegation spot. Especially in the last weeks, the Garcia eleven came closer and closer to the “forbidden zone”. The euphoria after the good start as promoted team has long since faded, as the latest figures are sobering. Mallorca have only won one of their last eleven league games. Far too many draws – a total of eight – can be found in the statistics.

How high the prioritisation of the cup is can therefore be questioned, because next weekend, with the away game at last-place Levante, a trend-setting match is on the agenda.

Away the defence has big problems

So the first division team is hardly to be expected in its best line-up on Wednesday afternoon. The focus will be on the league and accordingly, Luis Garcia will probably rotate through a lot. Will this actually be an advantage? It’s hard to imagine, because Mallorca has revealed major problems away from home so far. While only eight goals have been conceded in ten home games, they have conceded 20 goals in nine away games. Most recently, Mallorca even conceded four goals to Granada.

The away record coupled with the general uncertainty and the expected rotation are three strong arguments against betting on the supposed favourites in the cup match between Eibar and Mallorca.

Predicted line-up of Mallorca:
Quetglas – Olivan, Sedlar, Gaya, Sastre – de Galarreta, Baba – Sanchez, Rodriguez, Mboula – Fer Nino

Last matches played in Mallorca:

LaLiga
01/02 2022 – Mallorca 0 – 1 Barcelona

12/19 2021 – Granada 4 – 1 Mallorca

Copa del Rey
12/16 2021 – UD Llanera 0 – 6 Mallorca

LaLiga
12/10 2021 – Mallorca 0 – 0 Celta Vigo

12/04 2021 – Atletico Madrid 1 – 2 Mallorca

Eibar – Mallorca Direct Comparison / H2H Balance

Only in 2019/20 have the two sides faced each other in the Spanish football top flight, with Mallorca winning both games against the Basques 2-1 despite their eventual relegation. In addition to these two games, there are 14 other matches in the second division, all of which took place some time ago. Nevertheless, the direct comparison speaks a clear language in favour of the island kickers, who have won ten of the 16 games so far.

Eibar – Mallorca tip

Ambitious second division team meets first division team that has had big problems lately. With this statement, the tendency for the prediction for the match Eibar against Mallorca can already be seen. The hosts, who have only lost one home game this season, are acting with a broad chest. Therefore, the starting situation is absolutely understandable and the lowest odds are offered for Eibar.

The Mallorcan guests are currently in a crisis and have a landmark game in the league to play next weekend. The focus will therefore hardly be on the cup and thus the chance increases with Eibar against Mallorca on the tip of the home win. Five units will be used as a stake for the home side to win in normal time